Michael Owen has joined forces with David Beckham in pleading with supporters not to ruin England's "genuine chance" of European Championship glory.

England have been told by Europe's governing body Uefa that they could be expelled from the 2004 finals in Portugal if there is a repeat of the ugly scenes before, during and after the qualifier with Turkey at The Stadium of Light in April.

More than 50 arrests took place and, in addition to the clashes outside the ground, supporters spilled over onto the pitch to celebrate goals from Darius Vassell and skipper Beckham in England's 2-0 win.

That has put them in the driving seat to gain automatic qualification as group winners and Owen is full of optimism that England could end their lengthy search for major honours in either 2004 or at the 2006 World Cup.

But the Liverpool striker knows another night of madness from their followers could mean expulsion.

Owen admits the England players have to put their own house in order, starting with tonight's friendly international against Serbia and Montenegro, by curtailing their over exuberant goal celebrations.

They were cited by Uefa as part of the reason for the fans behaviour inside the stadium as Vassell and Beckham ran to the massed ranks behind the goal after finding the net.

But it is the supporters on whom the eyes of Uefa will be most strongly focused at the Walkers Stadium and in the June 11 qualifier with Slovakia at Middlesbrough.

Owen said: "I hate the thought of us qualifying ahead of Turkey and the other teams in our group on merit and then not get there because of a stupid silly thing off the pitch.

"If you sit back and think what the fans want, I can't think of anything better than being a supporter and cheering your nation on in a massive competition like the World Cup or European Championships.

"They are fantastic occasions, they bring the nation together, and the consequences of missing it if people don't behave are enormous.

"If they think of what the summer would be like if that was the case, with no England in the finals, I think they will think again.

"It's not as if they happen every year. A World Cup is every four years. Some players only play in one, or two if they are lucky.

"It's the chance of a life-time, not just for the players but also the fans." Owen added: "I wasn't alive when we won the World Cup and I'd love to be alive when we win another one.

"It would be awful to think you've got the best team in the world or Europe and it is spoilt because certain people can't behave. It just doesn't make sense.

"We have got a young side. We have got a genuine chance in the European Championships but the World Cup really excites me.

"I think the team will be absolutely at its peak for the 2006 finals but I still think we have got a great chance in the Euro finals as well. For it to be taken away because of misbehaviour would be terrible. We want everyone to behave.

"The players will play their part, in their actions and what they say. Hopefully we will score goals but if we do we won't be running up into the crowd and jumping into them.

"We are trying to say the right things, for everyone not to get too carried away, but at the end of the day 99pc of the responsibility is with the people that actually do it.

"The main bulk of it lies with the supporters and the individuals that cause trouble. Everyone knows there are a few fans that do it but they do spoil it for everyone." Beckham, who recorded his appeal before going on holiday, said: "90pc of the fans are absolutely amazing, it's just that 10pc that just need to stay in control.

"It is going to get us in a lot of trouble, we have been warned already. We don't want to face elimination from the competition, that is the last thing we want.

"Racism, violence and jumping on the pitch has to be put out of the game. There are children at the game who get scared.

"Respect has to be shown to the opposition's national anthem, booing a national anthem is disrespectful. It shouldn't happen, we wouldn't like it if it happened to us."